MK:U has won £100,000 of government funding from the Office for Students to develop a new degree apprenticeship in Supply Chain Management, helping to meet the growing demand for skills in this area.
With Milton Keynes a vital logistics hub for the UK, the new qualification from MK:U will bolster the city’s skills pool and open opportunities for under-represented student groups to secure graduate roles in this industry. It’s expected that the new provision will increase national take-up of this qualification by 10% in year one, and 17% per year thereafter.
Nationally, the Supply Chain degree apprenticeship standard has a lack of diversity at present, with low representation of both female and ethnic minority students. MK:U’s inclusive admissions process, flexible learning model and problem-based approach attracts a diverse student body. The proportion of women studying technical subjects at MK:U is higher than the national average, and it has more than doubled the ethnic diversity of its student base in two years.
“This funding to develop a new degree apprenticeship in supply chain management shows confidence in the MK:U model,” said Professor Lynette Ryals OBE, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Cranfield University and Chief Executive of MK:U. “Supply chain management is a crucial area where skills are in high demand across our city and beyond. I’m really pleased that MK:U will be making a difference for employers in the region into the future, as people upskill and gain this new qualification.”
Cranfield School of Management’s world-leading Centre for Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain has been advising on course development, in consultation with local employers, national logistics companies and major manufacturers and retailers. Reflecting the rapid increase in digital and automation techniques in the industry, the new course will offer apprentices the opportunity to learn maths, programming and Big Data skills alongside the development of management and specialist supply chain expertise.
MK:U already has a growing portfolio of technical apprenticeships in digital technology, data science and cyber security. This new apprenticeship will expand its offering in business, sitting alongside its established Management apprenticeship.
MK:U’s ambitions contribute to the city’s vision for higher education
MK:U’s model of education was recently praised by Robert Halfon MP, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education, who visited its base at Bouverie House and expressed support for how students combine work and study in areas of skills shortages.
It is on track to have over 400 students taught from city centre locations by mid-2024, applying their new skills in their workplace as they learn.
Industry partnerships and relationships are also key for MK:U, and it operates a successful business innovation hub where 700 local business owners, educators and innovators collaborate to grow and develop ideas.
